Basketball is a sport that Australians notoriously perform well in at both Commonwealth and Olympic Games level.

The Australian women’s basketball team, the Opals, have won multiple medals before at Olympic level, and at the 2024 event they’ll be playing in the hopes of achieving their best result yet – gold.

Women’s basketball first appeared at the Olympic Games in 1976, but Australia didn’t make their first appearance until 1984. Since then, they’ve only failed to qualify once – in 1992.

Their most successful period was between 1996 and 2012, where they won medals at five games in a row – three silvers and two bronzes.

They’ve seen slightly less success in their most recent campaigns, finishing in fifth and then eighth place respectively in 2016 and 2020.

But at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, they’re on a mission to restore their stellar form, and as they’re currently ranked third in the world, their chances look quite good.

The Opals team comprises 12 players – a mix of veterans and players set to make their Olympic debut.

Leading the team will be Tess Madgen, 33, who will be attending her second Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, Australian great Lauren Jackson, is also making a comeback to the sport for the occasion. The 43-year-old, who announced her retirement earlier this year, will be appearing at her fifth Olympics.

The full Australian women’s basketball team is as follows:

• Rebecca Allen, 31
• Isobel Borlase, 20
• Cayla George, 35
• Lauren Jackson, 43
• Tess Madgen, 33
• Ezi Magbegor, 24
• Jade Melbourne, 21
• Alanna Smith, 27
• Steph Talbot, 30
• Marianna Tolo, 35
• Kristy Wallace, 28
• Sami Whitcomb, 36

The Opals have a relatively difficult draw at the 2024 Olympics, and they’re set to play against Canada, France and Nigeria as part of Group B.

Their Olympic campaign kicks off against Nigeria on 29th July at 7pm AEST. They will then play against Canada on 1 August at 9.30pm AEST, and lastly they will come up against host nation France at 5am AEST on 5 August.

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Charlotte Knoke

Charlotte Knoke is a digital content producer working across Now To Love, Woman’s Day and TV Week at Are Media. She writes about all things entertainment and lifestyle and has a keen interest in pop culture, royals, fashion, books, travel and women’s sport. Charlotte graduated from the University of Technology Sydney in 2023 with a Bachelor of Communication where she majored in Public Communication and minored in Social and Political Sciences. She has previously worked at a wide variety of companies including Netball Australia, Booktopia, Sportsgirl and Women’s Sport Australia. At these various companies, Charlotte gained valuable experience in a range of different areas including marketing, communication, social media, copywriting, public relations and journalism. In her current role as a digital content producer, Charlotte particularly enjoys writing about the latest TV shows, celebrity news, fashion picks, upcoming movies, shopping content and news about both the British and international royal families.